Combined license-number plate and tail light



L. E. RICH COMBINED LICENSE NUMBER PLATE AND TAIL LIGHT Filed May 11. 1923 iffy;

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Patented May 13, 1924.

STATES LEON E. RICH, OF OXFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED LICENSE-NUMBER PLATE AND TAIL LIGHT.

Application filed May 11, 1923. Serial No. 638,345.

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, LEON E. RICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oxford, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined License- Number Plates and Tail Lights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to accessories for use on motor vehicles and has for its object the provision of a novel combined tail light and illuminated license number plate, the device operating to fulfill both functions in a thoroughly efficient manner and having the great advantage of making the license number clearly readable at night.

It is well known that the illuminating means commonly provided for the ordinary license plate is totally inadequate and as a result the drivers of cars frequently get away from the scene of an accident before the license number can be read. This is manifestly improper and unjust as punishment for reckless driving is in this way often avoided. It is with this condition of affairs in view that I have designed the present device which consists of a casing containing illuminating means and having an open front covered by a pane of translucent or transparent red material which bears the license number thereon, the device being illuminated by an incandescent bulb energized from the storage battery of the car.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, efiicient and durable in service and a general improvement in the art With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the complete device,

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section and Figure 8 is a horizontal section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I have shown my device as comprising a casing 10 which is preferably though not necessarily trapezoidal in shape and which is constructed of any suitable material such as galvanized iron or other sheet metal, painted, enameled or otherwise treated to possess weather withstanding qualities. The inside of this casing is preferably left shiny, painted white or otherwise treated to act as a reflector. Of course any desired means may be provided for mounting the casing upon a vehicle though in the present instance I have shown a bracket 11 which is secured upon the bottom of the casing and which is formed with holes 12 through which may be passed securing bolts or screws which engage any preferred partof the vehicle.

The illuminating means consists of an ordinary socket 13 which is secured at the center of the back wall 14: of the casing and which is supplied with current in the same manner as the ordinary tail light is supplied. This socket carries an incandescent bulb 15.

The top and bottom walls of the casing have secured thereto near the open front l..- shaped strips 16 which define retaining flanges for a pane 17 of red glass, celluloid or other transparent or translucent material. This pane or plate is held in position by means of screws 18 which pass therethrough and which are engaged within nuts l9 located at the rear sides of the strips 16 and retained in position by means of flanged lugs 20 formed integrally from the strips 16 and engaging the nuts to prevent them from displacement. The strips 16 are of course formed with holes 21 which register with the openings in the nuts. The license number is painted or otherwise inscribed upon the transparent plate or pane 17 so as to conform to the customary regulations.

In the operation it is of course apparent that when the bulb is energized the red light emitted through the pane 17 serves the purpose of a tail light while at the same time the license number is clearly visible. As the letters or numerals forming the license number are painted of some color which contrasts strongly with red as for instance white, it is obvious that the number will be easily legible in day time.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a casing having its front open and having its end walls inclined and converging rearwardly, an electric light holding socket at the center of the back Wall, the inclination of said side walls acting to reflect the light through the open front, longitudinally extending strips secured at the top and bottom Walls of the casing in spaced relation to the open front thereof, a pane of transparent or translucent material closing and telescoping within the open front of the casing and lying against said strips, said pane bearing license indicia, securin members passing through said pane and through ears formed on said strips.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LEON E. RICH. 

